FY2026 Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program
🏛 Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 8, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for marine mammal rescue and response organizations authorized under federal law. Eligible applicants must be authorized marine mammal stranding participants or stranding network collaborators. This includes nonprofits, government agencies, and individuals authorized by USFWS under the Marine Mammal Protection Act or Endangered Species Act.
Projects must address marine mammal recovery, care, treatment, emergency response, data collection, facility operating costs, or stranding network capacity development. Applicants who lack specific MMPA or ESA authorization may still qualify depending on project nature.
Cost-sharing is required. Federal employees from Interior or Commerce departments are ineligible.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Response Grant Program (Prescott program) provides financial assistance to eligible marine mammal stranding participants and stranding network collaborators to provide (A) the recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled marine mammals; (B) responses to marine mammal stranding events that require emergency assistance; (C) the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research or assessments regarding marine mammal health; (D) facility operating costs that are directly related to activities described in (A), (B), or (C); and (E) development of stranding network capacity, including training for emergency response, where facilities do not exist or are sparse. Successful applications will be those aimed at helping support these actions. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Prescott Grant Program will provide support for response to the stranding of wild populations of species under the Department of the Interior’s management authority per section 3(12) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Under this Funding Opportunity, FWS will recommend projects for funding based on how well and to what extent they support the species-specific priority activities, which are listed below under Species-Specific Funding Priorities. For the purposes of this program, priority is to be given to applications focusing on marine mammal strandings.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- MMPA or ESA authorization documentation (or exemption clarification from FWS)
- Project narrative describing stranding response activities
- Budget and cost-sharing plan
- Facility description (if applicable)
- Organization credentials and capacity documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Fish and Wildlife Service
- 📧 kelly_niland@fws.gov
- 📞 22041-3803
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.683 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$150,000
-
$150,000
-
$150,000
-
$150,000
-
$150,000
-
$149,995
-
$149,872
-
$149,689
-
$139,906
-
$130,476
Top States by Funding
- FL 20 awards $1.9M
- AK 7 awards $0.7M
- CA 6 awards $0.7M
- PR 3 awards $0.3M
- WA 2 awards $0.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.683). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2020 | $2,040,000 | |
| 2021 | $1,200,000 | |
| 2022 | $1,137,493 | |
| 2023 | $2,162,000 | |
| 2024 | $2,162,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $1,221,364 | |
| 2026 est. | $1,220,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Marine mammal stranding participants and network collaborators authorized by USFWS under the MMPA or ESA. Federal, state, or local government employees operating in official duties may also apply if authorized.
What activities can be funded?
Recovery and care of marine mammals, emergency response, scientific data collection, facility operating costs, and stranding network capacity development.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, cost-sharing is required. Confirm the percentage with FWS before submitting.
What is the typical award amount?
The award range is approximately $150,000 based on available funding, though the full pool is $2.35 million across all awards.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is November 30, 2026. Plan applications well in advance.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Obtain proper MMPA or ESA authorization before applying. Contact FWS to clarify if you qualify under section 109(h) exemptions.
- Focus your application on marine mammal stranding response—this is the program priority.
- Clearly document facility needs and network capacity gaps, especially if developing new stranding infrastructure.
- Include specific data on past strandings or projected response events in your service area.
- Plan for required cost-sharing and identify matching funds sources early.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications without proper MMPA/ESA authorization or unclear eligibility status are commonly rejected. Proposals that don't prioritize stranding response or lack clear emergency response capacity plans are less competitive. Poor documentation of facility needs or cost-sharing sources weakens applications.
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